Page 3 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
Titania’s black-tattooed lips curl cruelly while the orange glow swirls in her eyes. “Florian, if you will. ShowLadyKeira to her litter. She will travel in a manner that suits her station.”
My eyes flick to the litter behind her.The platform has a four-poster frame draped with velvet curtains and a bed of cushions. Long poles extend out of it for servants to hoist onto their shoulders and carry the entire structure as its occupant lounges within.
Titania laughs. “Oh, not that one, you silly child. You will see how low you are to become here.”
Florian thrusts me forward to a second litter. A bare cage is built onto the platform, with no curtains or cushioning.
There is nothing to hide behind.
Then I realize we are nowhere near the palace and the City of Vertical Gardens. Titania plans to parade me halfway across Spring, like a spoil of war. Like a captured enemy.
A sickness rolls through me.
I can do this.
I have endured worse.
There is an untempered strength within me.
I tell myself all these things. If only I could believe them.
I whip back around to Titania. “You cannot cage me. Surely the bargain will not allow it. I am to be treated with the dignity of a noble guest.” My breaths come hard and fast. I dig my heels into the ground and thrash out my elbows. Anything to stop me from being forced into that cage.
It is no use. My back crashes into Florian’s chest and he wraps an arm around my waist. I am lifted from the ground like a child, my legs kicking and striking the metal plate of his armor uselessly.
The High Chancellor’s laughter rings out behind me. “You will be surprised by what the bargain will allow me.”
Another guard rushes forward and unlocks the gate, swinging it open so Florian can toss me inside. I am airborne for a single heartbeat, my stomach bottoming out, then I crash to the wooden floor. My hip and shoulder strike the hard surface and pain explodes within both.
Somewhere far away, Aldrin curses colorfully. This bond is going to be the end of him.
The cage door slams shut and the lock clicks as it engages. The bars close in on me until they suffocate me.
“She is a disappointing thing to have caused so much trouble in her realm.” Florian’s mocking tone snags my attention. I glance up to where he and Torin watch me with a group of others like I am some exotic animal on display for their entertainment, the rest of the amassed warriors moving on with purpose. “I was expecting some great beauty, not…this.” His features are pinched in disgust.
“All you see is a human, Florian, and you can’t see past it. I bet she will clean up prettily when we get back to the palace.” Torin gives me a predator’s smile and my stomach lurches.
Florian rolls his eyes to Torin. “Like you said, humans are beneath my notice, but this one is particularly plain.”
I am so incredibly tired, and I suspect my treatment is about to get far worse.
A man pushes his way through the center of the crowd, shoving fae out of his way. He brushes past Torin and Florian and walks up to the bars of my cage. Intense brown eyes stare like he is analyzing me right down to my soul. There is a bitter twist to his lips and his thick, dark eyebrows are furrowed. He is revolted by what he sees in me. That look makes me feel small and undressed, but I lift my chin, refusing to cower.
Torin nudges the man in the ribs. “What do you think? I was just making a bet with Florian that she would be ravishing after a bath and new clothes.”
“I made no fucking bets,” Florian grumbles, spitting to the side.
The man drags his eyes away from me to study the crowd. He is peculiar-looking, with deep golden-brown skin, a youthful face no older than mine and pure white hair that hangs loosely with a few rough plaits through it.
“We are about to move out. I suggest you all stop gawking at the prisoner and get in your positions,” the man bites out. “You know how Titania likes these processions to go.”
“Oh, come on, Rainier, you’re no fun.” Torin puts an arm around his shoulders. “Are you bitter because we didn’t convince your treacherous parents to come back?”
I watch with horror as the two men walk away.
Thisis Rainier.
Oh gods, no.
